Session+2+ISA+14

(see the list of all sessions at http://isarc10internetforum.wikispaces.com/ISA+2014 )

Title:
=**Well-Being, Participation and Digital Democracy**=

Monday, July 14, 2014: 03:30 PM - 05:20 PM, Yokohama, Booth 65
Session Organizer Janet MCINTYRE Flinders University GPO Box 2100 South Australia School of Social and Policy Studies Adelaide, 5001 Australia Session Organizer Luciana Cristina de SOUZA Milton Campos Law School Rua Senador Milton Campos, 202 Propaedeutical Disciplines Nova Lima, 34000-000 Brazil
 * Associate Professor:**
 * Phone Number:** 61 8 8201 2075
 * Fax Number:** 61 8 8201 5111
 * Email:** Janet.mcintyre@flinders.edu.au -- Will not be published
 * Professor:**
 * Phone Number:** 55 31 3289-1900
 * Email:** dralucianacsouza@gmail.com -- Will not be published

(voice message of the organizer Janet Mcyntire is available at @http://vocaroo.com/i/s0My6eOyxaSt) (Slides and draft of the full paper "The Challenges For Social and Environmental Justice Posed By The Global Panoptican, Penal States and Disappearing States In An Increasingly Vulnerable and Unequal World" of Janet Mcintyre are available within ISA RC10 Yokohama Congress session 12 Inequality, Modes of Participation and Democracy, Thursday, July 17, 2014: 08:30 AM - 10:20 AM, Yokohama, Booth 65 at http://isarc10internetforum.wikispaces.com/Session+12+ISA+14
 * Session Description**:

Theoretical and methodological challenges will be explored within the historical and socio-political context of the social structuration of contradictory strategies in the realization of social relationships. The problem is that the most vulnerable people are not protected by the social contract. The session will explore strong and weak cosmopolitanism, the green versus the sustainability movement and the way in which people and planetary issues continue to be polarised in processes that commodify relationships, labour, nature and sentient beings. Can cosmopolitan politics address the criticism raised by the Left, namely that the pseudo debate between right and left leads to a transformation of the neoliberal market? The area of concern addressed by cosmopolitans is that humanity faces systemically linked social, economic and environmental crises that currently pose a challenge to the sovereignty of states and raise concerns about the ability of regional federations to address the needs of increasingly unequal societies. The session aims to discuss an understanding of the way in which cosmopolitanism is shaped by diverse definitions and applied very differently by theorists and those who engage in transformative praxis. We will explore the extent to which the development of new forms of digital communication could enable broader participation in a wider public space, whilst exploring the role of the state and ‘if then scenarios’ about the role of federations, post national biospheres or within so-called republican federalism and the implications for social and environmental justice.

Vocaroo recording []



Hello everyone. It is easy to post your paper here on line by using vocaroo software.
Here is a video to show you how :) []

[]

Click on the link
 * 1) Press record
 * 2) Chat
 * 3) Listen
 * 4) If you are happy download the link

If you pay your registration, than your abstract will remain in the official program of the Yokohama Congress and in the abstract Booklet. If not, it will remain on this special subpage of our ISA RC10 internet forum opened just for the session to which you have sent your abstract in the first place - Well-Being, Participation and Digital Democracy.

I think that the most logical place for your contribution developing ideas from your abstract is just on this specific sub-page, in order to be able to communicate with other people who were planning to discuss the same theme as you in the discussion part of this subpage. ... synchronic online participation is more demanding in software and hardware terms, and therefore less accessible to majority of disadvantaged people.

I am looking forward to reading your contributions at http://isarc10internetforum.wikispaces.com/Session+2+ISA+14 after you join our http://isarc10internetforum.wikispaces.com/home (just follow the link "join" and fill out the form, and after receiving confirmation you will be able to edit the page and upload your contributions).

Abstract id# 45770

**The Challenges in a Fragmented World of Achieving a Holistic Approach to Urban Planning for a Sustainable Future**

 * Barbara DICKENS**, Masters Graduate Flinders University, South Australia, Flagstaff Hill, Australia

Abstract Text:

In our ‘complex, fragmented urban world’ (Stoker) ‘global problems are generated at the local scale and should be solved there too’ (Condon). Yet, neither governments nor citizens take responsibility for the collective problems, while political systems focus on short-term rather than long term benefits. Held emphasises ‘the need for a strong public sector, and the requirement for multilateral governance’, while acknowledging ‘conflicts between economic development and the strengthening of civil society’. McIntyre-Mills argues, ‘policy and practice needs to consider social, economic and environmental implications for all life’. The field of urban planning exemplifies this. Key issues of democracy and participation in public policy making at local and regional level, the role of the private sector and the balance of markets, government and civil society, and a containerized approach by government, results in much urban planning failing to recognize future consequences of current choices. Any approach to resolve this complex mess and balance the state, market and society requires, as McIntyre-Mills says, ‘a democracy/governance cycle that spans conceptual, spatial and temporal boundaries’. At the same time democracy needs to change to meet the convergent social, economic and environmental challenges. McIntyre-Mills recommends ‘both centralized controls to protect the global commons and decentralized engagement to test out our ideas’. Urban planning also will only succeed if it recognizes that ‘we need to be the subjects not the objects of other people’s designs’ (McIntyre-Mills). However, participatory design is complex and difficult and, while digital communication can potentially include more voices, like any engagement it works best when complementing other processes and ‘built around the needs, goals, and concerns of the potentially engaged,’ (Leinghninger). Sarkissian therefore argues that urban planning needs to take a holistic approach, ‘taking into account multiple layers and components of social systems’ and to be long term focused. http://vocaroo.com/i/s1VmlSrvABNx

Abstract id# 48365 =**Exploring the Role of Listening in Participation**=


 * Rebecca LAFORGIA**, Law, Adelaide university, adelaide, Australia

Abstract Text:

This paper will review the work on listening as a democratic skill in participation, particularly online participation. Crawford, writing in the context of the applying listening in the context of online activity, draws on the work of Jonathan Crary who observes there is in our times ‘an ongoing crisis of attentiveness.’ Crawford proposes that emphasizing listening as an approach offers a counterpoint to this. So too listening theorist Beard has written that there may well be “an ethical listening subject.” He argues this subject will make “//the choice to listen selectively//.” This does not mean Beard explains to only those points at which we feel “safe” but rather to think about why and how we listen and to seek out listening points rather than being passive receivers of endless information. Having explored elements of listening theory drawing on Kennedy and Beard this is then applied in the context of environmental issues. The recent work of Holifield will also be reviewed; this work argues that listening and ecology have a relationship. Drawing on quite different theoretical foundations nevertheless Beard and Holifield argue this listening then in turn creates the ‘self’. The listening approach to online participation therefore has value in contributing to cosmopolitan ideas. While it does not create a theory of cosmopolitanism it does deal with common themes from cosmopolitan thinkers who grapple with the universal, the voices of all, and the self. Listening writers therefore offer an important perspective to the project of enhancing democracy. - presentation slides available at [] -voice message available at []

Abstract id# 33711

**The Growing Unpredictability Of Climate Disasters - Implications For Effective Responses In An Unequal World**

 * Constance LEVER-TRACY**, Sociology, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia

Abstract Text:

Locally unprecedented and unpredicted natural disasters are already becoming manifest, and will increase in frequency and intensity, around the globe, as climate change advances. Poorer countries, with the least resources with which to respond, are often the most exposed to droughts, floods, storms, wild fires or rising seas, but there is no universal correlation between inequality and such vulnerability, which can strike anywhere, as hurricane Sandy and the flooding of the Japanese nuclear plant have demonstrated. Accelerating climate change, shifting weather systems and poorly understood tipping points undermine the predictability needed for preparedness by even the wealthy, and few nations have the resources or experience to respond quickly without help or advice. Transnational assistance can be equally inadequate or inappropriate as illustrated by the introduction of disease into Haiti by UN forces or by the lack of preparedness for radiation effects on US personnel assisting at Fukushima. The mechanisms for rapid trans-national or local to local assistance are as yet undeveloped and Naomi Klein and others have demonstrated the dangers of external aid, when it ignores local knowledge, brings in highly paid expatriates and foreign profit making companies that undermine or displace local activities. On the other hand there has been too little attention to the potential in empowering and channelling aid to local bodies, and facilitating direct communication between localities around the world which have had similar experiences. Monalisa Chatterjee’s study of the Moombai floods, illustrates the potential effectiveness of local networks, in contrast with the disastrous and damaging imposed responses to Katrina in New Orleans. - Notes for presentation by Constance

Abstract id# 34941

**Perceptions Of Executive Government Leadership In The Age Of Engagement and Community Based Decision Making**

 * Andrew LEADER**, Flinders University Institute of Public Policy and Management, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia

Abstract Text:

Exploring implications for accountability and democracy related to devolving responsibility for identifying, defining and resolving problems to the community level. In response to significant policy challenges, such as climate change, health care demands and water availability facing decision makers and the community today new approaches that place the community at the heart of the solution are increasingly being adopted. The consequences of these new approaches and their impact on established governance structures will be a key determinant to their longevity as drivers of public policy solutions. The research will focus on the three primary subgroups involved in the community engagement process, the community (citizens), senior government decision makers (executive level public servants), and political executive government (politicians, political elite and influencers). What do different stakeholders (community, senior government decision makers and political executive government) perceive to be the reasons for undertaking community engagement? What do different stakeholders perceive to be the fundamental outcomes that community engagement can be expected to deliver? Do stakeholder’s perceptions of the outcomes of community engagement match with the perceptions of engagement’s success? Are there differences between perceptions of desired outcomes and perceptions of success between stakeholder groups? The emerging trend to engage with stakeholders to identify issues and collectively decide on action has the potential to significantly impact on perceptions of executive government leadership. The perception of leadership has the potential to significantly impact upon accountability and democracy as the legitimacy of governments are strongly rooted – at least in part – through the delivery of policies and services. The increased adoption of engagement and community based decision making may devolve responsibility for decision making to a point where the perceptions of governments’ leadership and accountability reaches a critically low point Please click on this link to see Andrew Leader's slides. Please click here for his vocaroo presentation: @http://vocaroo.com/i/s1ze4wlPe3M7

Abstract id# 40005 Paper withdrawn Towards a Conversation for a Global Narrative?


 * Dennis FINLAYSON**, conflict and crises, ISSS, derbyshire, United Kingdom

Abstract Text:

**Moving towards a new narrative for a global conversation?**
Many societies in Africa, Asia, Latin America and even Europe have been dominated by cultures from others parts of the world especially since the age of colonialism dominated by the West but also parts of Asia and Africa where the local cultures have had religions and cultural practices imposed on them, such as those based on Islamic believes, for even longer periods. Re-establishing the previous cultures as legitimate and valuable can be difficult even when conditions seem quite favourable as in Indonesia and parts of Latin America, for example, where areas of indigenous culture have survived until modern times. In the recent developments many observers have complained that the Arab Spring events have lacked a narrative or common purpose. In the light of these continuing movements however, I am inclined to ask whether post modern societies any longer need such widely accepted causes or sense or purpose? Can they have many coexisting causes, each fighting their own small battles for recognition, better treatment, the righting of past wrongs and so on? Could it be that the 21st century will see the emergence of many faceted grouping each pursuing their own limited, relatively short lived modes of living with each coexisting alongside many others with parallel modes perhaps even at different levels or stages of development? In inner cities in the UK at present this could well be one interpretation of what is seen on the ground. And, though there are occasional outbreaks of discontent and even violent protest as witnessed in variety of English cities in August 2011, for the most part these distinctive groupings seem to get along O.K. and evolve side by side! But is this relevant to othere societies?